Copy making apparatus



April 1966 R. c. ROBERTSON 3,246,591

COPY MAKING APPARATUS Filed Jan 9, 1964 N VEN TOP KJ/CF/AED C. FOBEETSOA/ ATTOEA/E-YS United States Patent 3,246,591 COPY MAKING APPARATUS Richard C. Robertson, Mount Prospect, Ill., assignoi' to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Charles Bruniug Division, Mount Prospect, 1., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 336,815 5 Claims. (Cl. 95-775) This invention relates to a copying apparatus and, more particularly, to such an apparatus including new and improved means for detachably mounting a sheet or carrier on a rotating drum.

An apparatus for obtaining economic short-to-medium length runs of copies from a single original using a direct or diazo process is shown and described in detail in a copending application of Campbell and Raterman, Serial No. 291,444, filed June 28, 1963, which application is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. In this apparatus, the original to be copied is detachably mounted on the outer surface of a rotating drum forming a part of an exposing station, and a copy sheet is fed into a superimposed position with the original during each cycle of the apparatus and then separated from the original and developed in an independent developer unit. A control circuit responsive to the number of copy sheets exposed during successive cycles of rotation of the drum operates an ejector assembly to remove the original from the drum and to discharge it from the machine.

The original is held on the drum by magnetic attraction resulting from an electromagnetic field acting on magneticstrips or portions applied directly to the original or aflixed to a transparent carrier in which the original is mounted. In some applications, itwould be desirable to be able to provide positive acting means for detachably mounting the original or a carrier containing the original on the drum without requiring the presence of a magnetic field within the machine. In addition, this retaining or holding means should be easily operated and controlled and capable of being constructed at a minimum cost.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved copying apparatus.

Another object is to provide a copying apparatus including new and improved means for detachably mounting a sheet on a drum.

Another object is to provide a copying apparatus in which an" original to be copied is detachably mounted on the surface of the drum by a carrier having a resilient portion that clamps the carrier on the drum.

Another object is to provide a copying apparatus in which a resilient carrier for an original normally having a somewhat semicylindrical configuration is moved to a generally uniplanar state as the carrier is fed into the apparatus and is released to return to its semicylindrical shape as it reaches a drum so that it detachably secures itself to the outer surface of the drum.

Another object is to provide a copying apparatus of the type having a rotating drum of a given diameter or radius in which a carrier for detachably mounting sheet material on the drum is formed in a somewhat semicylindrical form of a lesser diameter or radius to permit the carrier to be self-supported on the drum.

In accordance with these and many other objects, an embodiment of the invention comprises a copying apparatus including a rotating transparent drum having a light source forming an exposure station in which succe'ssive copy sheets are exposed in accordance with an original detachably mounted on the outer surface of the drum. Each copy sheet, which is automatically fed to the drum for exposure by a copy sheet feeding means and which is separated from the drum immediately following 3,246,591 Patented Apr. 19, 1966 exposure, is developed in a separate developer unit and then discharged from the apparatus. When the desired number of copies have been made, the original is removed from the outer surface of the drum and discharged from the machine.

To provide means for removably retaining the original on the outer surface of the rotating drum, a carrier is provided comprising a sheet of flexible and substantially transparent material to two opposite side edges of which a pair of resilient elements stressed to a semicircular configuration are secured. Thus, the carrier normally has a somewhat semicylindrical shape with a radius or diameter somewhat less than the corresponding dimension of the exposure drum. When copies are to be produced, the original is disposed within the carrier with its leading edge disposed beneath a folded leading edge of the carrier. The carrier is then fed into the machine through a feeding assembly that flattens or displaces the carrier to a generally uniplanar configuration. The carrier and original are then fed into a position adjacent and engaging the outer surface of a rotating drum by the input feeding means. When the carrier reaches a position adjacent the drum, it is held in engagement with the outer surface of the drum by flexible belt conveying means and is permitted to return to its generally semicylindrical configuration. In view of the fact that its normal diam-' eter or radius is less than that of the drum, the resilient means in the carrier clamp the carrier and the original against the outer surface of the drum without requiring the use of additional holding or retaining means. When the carrier is to be removed, the ejector assembly moves a deflector into engagement with the drum to discharge the carrier and the original into a discharge passageway in which the carrier is again flattened to a generally uniplanar configuration to permit itto be easily transported through and discharged from the machine.

Many other objects and advantages of the present in-' vention will become apparent from considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a copying apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carrier used in the copying apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1-; and

FIG; 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawings, therein is illustrated a copying machine which is indicated generally as 10 and which embodies the present invention. The machine 10, which is of substantially the same construction as that shown in the copending Campbell and Raterman' application, includes means for making one or a plurality of copies of an original 15 Without requiring the original 15 to be fed into the machine 10 more than once. This is accomplished by detachably mounting the original 15 within the machine 10 in a position to repeatedly expose copy sheets automatically fed into the machine during each cycle of operation thereof. Each of the exposed copy sheets is developed in a separate developer station following exposure, and the original 15 is ejected from the machine only following the exposure of the desired number of copy sheets.

To accomplish this, the machine 10 includes the exposing station including a transparent and rotatably mounted drum 12 within which a light source 14 is disposed. An

input feeding assembly 16 for the original 15 is automatically controlled in response to the insertion of an original 15 to place a sheet feeding assembly, indicated generally as 18, in operation so that a copy sheet 20 is automatically advanced to a position superimposed with the original 15 being advanced by the assembly 16. The aligned or superimposed copy sheet 20 and the original are fed through a passageway 22 to a point between the outer surface of the rotating drum 12 and the adjacent surface of a conveying means comprising a plurality of spaced flexible belts 24 passing around a plurality of guide and drive rollers 26.

The flexible belts 24 normally pass around substantially one half of the outer surface of the rotating drum 12 so that when the superimposed original 15 and copy sheet are fed between the drum 12 and the belts 24, these superimposed sheet members are moved past the lamp or light source 14 so that the copy sheet is exposed. The exposed copy sheet 20 is then separated from the original 15 and carried generally upwardly by the flexible belts 24 into a developer unit in which it is developed. The original 15 is retained on the outer surface of the drum 12 if more than a single copy is to be produced and, in passing through the remainder of a cycle of revolution with the drum 12, actuates a switching assembly 28 to advise the machine 10 that an additional copy of the original 15 is to be produced. A control circuit controlled by the switch means 28 operates the copy sheet feeding means 18 to feed a second sheet through the passageway 22 into a position aligned with or superimposed on the original 15 retained on the drum 12. During the following cycle of revolution of the drum 12, this next copy sheet is exposed and supplied to the developer unit. This operation continues until such time as the desired number of copies have been produced.

At this time, an "ejecting assembly indicated generally as 30 is operated to move a deflecting blade 32 into engagement with the. outer surface of the drum. This engages the leading edge of the original 15 and deflects it into an exit 'or discharge passageway 34. The original 15 is propelled through the discharge passageway 34 in response to the continuing rotation of the drum 12 and until the leading edge of the original 15 reaches a pair of discharge rollers 36 and 38. These rollers discharge the original 15 into a tray or rack 41 These components of the machine ltl'are' substantially the same and operate in substantially the same manner as the corresponding components described in detail in the copending Campbell et al. 7

' extending generally, transverse to the folded edge 44a.

The strips 46 can be secured to the sheet 44 by any suitable means, such as a layer 48 of adhesive material. If desired, the outer surfaces of the resilient elements 46 can be covered with a protective coating, such as one of plastic.

.The elements 46, which can be formed of spring steel, are prestressed so that they normally have a semicircular configuration. Thus, when they are secured to the edges of the flexible sheet 44, the carrier 42 assumes a generally semicylindrical configuration. The radius or diameter of the semicircular or semicylindrical carrier 42 is less than the corresponding diameter or radius of the drum 12. The relative sizes ofthe drum 12 and the carrier 42 are illustrated. in FIG. 1' in which an end view of the carrier 42 in a normal condition is shown in juxtaposition to the then inserted into the original feeding assembly 16 with the folded edge 44a providing the leading edge of the assembly and with the carrier 42 facing upwardly (FIG. 1) so that the original 15 rests on the web 44 of the carrier 42. As the carrier 42 passes through the throat formed by a guide structure Sti it is flattened or displaced to a generally uniplanar configuration in which it is retain-ed as it is moved through the passageway 22 by the assembly 16. A copy sheet 20 is moved into a superimposed position with the carrier 42 and the original 15 during their movement through the passageway 22 to the point at which the assembled sheets are pressed against the drum 12 by the flexible belts 24. The drum 12 now moves the original 15, the carrier 42, and the copy sheet 20 through the exposing station. During this movement, the carrier 42 is permitted to return from a uniplanar configuration to a configuration approaching its normal semicylindrical shape. However, as indicated by the superimposed illustrations of the drum 12 and the carrier 42 in FIG. 1, the greater radius of curvature or diameter of the drum 12 prevents the carrier 42 from completely returning to its normal shape, and the elements 46 thus provide a resilient force tending to clamp the carrier 42 against the outer surface of the drum 12.

During continuing rotation, the exposed copy sheet 20 is removed by the belts 24 and advanced to the developer unit. The carrier 42 holds the original 15 adjacent the outer surface of the drum 12 by a self-clamping action due to the partially deflected condition of the resilient elements 46. Any tendency for the carrier 42 to buckle or to separate from the outer surface of the drum 12 is prevented by one or a plurality of rollers 52 which bear against the outer surface of the drum 1-2 at points spaced along the periphery thereof. In this manner, the original 15 is retained on the outer surface of the drum 12 to permit the production of a plurality of copies without requiring the repeated feeding of this originaL.

When the last copy has been produced, the control circuit in the machine 10 operates the ejecting assembly 30 to move the deflector or scraper element '32 into engagement with the outer periphery of the drum 12. The leading edge or folded edge 44a of the carrier 42 is displaced from the outer surface of the drum 12 and enters the passageway 34. The continuing rotation of the drum 12 with the corresponding movement of the belts 24 forces the leading edge of the carrier 42 outwardly through the passageway 34 and, in doing so, re turns this carrier to a somewhat uniplanar configuration. The leading edge of the carrier 42 next passes between the rollers 36 and 38, and the carrier is discharged from the machine 10 into the rack or tray 40. The original 15 is then removed so that the carrier 42 can then be used in additional copying operations. 1

Therefore, the carrier 42 with the resilient elements 46 provides self-supported or self-clamped means for retaining the original 15 on the outer surface of the rotating drum 12 without requiring the use of additional holding or clamping means.

Although the present invention has been described With reference to a single illustrative embodiment thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for making copies of an original, a rotating drum of a given radius, a transparent and flexible carrier means normally biased to a generally arcuate configuration having a radius of curvature less than the radius of the drum, and feeding means receiving the carrier means for stressing the carrier means to a generally uniplanar configuration and for then permitting the restoration of the carrier means to its normal configuration so that it resiliently clamps itself against the outer surface of the drum.

2. A copying machine for making copies of an original on copy sheets comprising a rotating drum, means including a light source in the drum for exposing a copy sheet in accordance with the original, a generally flexible and transparent carrier means normally occupying a somewhat semicylindrical configuration and adapted to receive the original, and feeding means for feeding the carrier means into proximity to the rotating drum, said feeding means being adapted to receive the carrier means in an upwardly facing relation and to fiex the carrier means into a generally uniplanar configuration during movement toward the rotating drum and to release the carrier means for movement by resilient bias to a semicylindrical configuration clamped against the outer surface of the rotating drum.

3. A copying machine for making copies of an original on copy sheets comprising a rotating drum, means including a light source in the drum for exposing a copy sheet in accordance with the original, a generally flexible and transparent carrier means normally occupying a somewhat semicylindrical configuration and adapted to receive the original, feeding means for feeding the carrier means into proximity to the rotating drum, said feeding means being adapted to flex the carrier means to a generally uniplanar configuration during movement toward the rotating drum and to release the carrier means for movement by resilient bias to a semicylindrical configuration clamped against the outer surface of the rotating drum, and ejecting means for removing the carrier means from the rotating drum, said ejecting means including means defining an elongated passageway and separating means for separating an edge of the carrier means from the drum and for feeding the leading edge into the elongated passageway through which the carrier means is transported in a generally uniplanar configuration.

4. A carrier for use with a drum with a given diameter comprising a sheet of flexible and transparent material, and a pair of flexible and resilient strips secured along opposite edges of the sheet, said strips being stressed to take generally semicircular configurations and form the attached sheet into a corresponding generally semicylindrical configuration having a diameter less than the given diameter.

5. A document carrier for use with a copying apparatus of the type having a rotating drum of a given diameter comprising a sheet of flexible and transparent material, and flexible and resilient means secured to the sheet of material and normally holding the sheet of material in a generally semicylindrical configuration having a diameter less than the given diameter, the flexible and resilient means serving to bias the sheet of material against the outer surface of the exposure drum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,066,679 12/1962 Hurley et a1. 1291 3,152,528 10/1964 Pendry 75 X 3,179,031 4/1965 Gordon 95-75 X EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner. 

3. A COPYING MACHINE FOR MAKING COPIES OF AN ORIGINAL ON COPY SHEETS COMPRISING A ROTATING DRUM, MEANS INCLUDING A LIGHT SOURCE IN THE DRUM FOR EXPOSING A COPY SHEET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORIGINAL, A GENERALLY FLEXIBLE AND TRANSPARENT CARRIER MEANS NORMALLY OCCUPYING A SOMEWHAT SEMICYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE ORIGINAL, FEEDING MEANS FOR FEEDING THE CARRIER MEANS INTO PROXIMITY TO THE ROTATING DRUM, SAID FEEDING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO FLEX THE CARRIER MEANS TO A GENERALLY UNIPLANAR CONFIGURATION DURING MOVEMENT TOWARD THE ROTATING DRUM AND TO RELEASE THE CARRIER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT BY RESILIENT BIAS TO A SEMICYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION CLAMPED AGAINST THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE ROTATING DRUM, AND EJECTING MEANS FOR REMOVING THE CARRIER MEANS FROM THE ROTATING DRUM, SAID EJECTING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING AN ELONGATED PASSAGEWAY AND SEPARATING MEANS FOR SEPARATING AN EDGE OF THE CARRIER MEANS FROM THE DRUM AND FOR FEEDING THE LEADING EDGE INTO THE ELONGATED PASSAGEWAY THROUGH WHICH THE CARRIER MEANS IS TRANSPORTED IN A GENERALLY UNIPLANAR CONFIGURATION.
 4. A CARRIER FOR USE WITH A DRUM WITH A GIVEN DIAMETER COMPRISING A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE AND TRANSPORT MATERIAL, AND A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT STRIPS SECURED ALONG OPPOSITE EDGES OF THE SHEET, SAID STRIPS BEING STRESSED TO TAKE GENERALLY SEMICIRCULAR CONFIGURATIONS AND FORM THE ATTACHED SHEET INTO A CORRESPONDING GENERALLY SEMICYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION HAVING A DIAMETER LESS THAN THE GIVEN DIAMETER. 